We know results don't matter in friendlies, never mind training-ground games, but there were still plenty of reasons for John Askey to be cheerful after a productive day at Nottingham Forest.

Vale took on Forest's under-23s and reserves in a game split into thirds of 25 minutes each. Askey's squad won 4-3 and perhaps the quality of their goals stood out as much as the result.

The manager was pleased to see new signings Mark Cullen and David Amoo both get on the scoresheet, while Manny Oyeleke's two goals were the least he deserved for a hugely impressive run out.

Vale only saw the best of Oyeleke in spells last season because of a series of injuries which began in pre-season. So, they will be keen for him to get through all the friendlies, as he did in some style here as he dominated in midfield.

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He gave Vale the lead in the first third of the game when he swept the ball home first time from 15 yards after Amoo got down the right and cut the ball across.

However, that goal was overshadowed by a brilliant strike by Cullen for the second. Oyeleke won an aerial challenge before the ball dropped to the former Blackpool striker who looked up from 30 yards and chipped the keeper.

Vale midfielder Manny Oyeleke

That was going to be tough to match although Oyeleke arguably did it in the second period of the game after Luke Joyce won the ball in midfield. The ball rolled to Oyeleke with his back to goal on the right side of midfield, but after a quick glance over his shoulder, he lofted the ball left footed over the keeper from around 30 yards.

Vale made it 4-0 in that same second period when Amoo gathered the ball on the left, dropped his shoulder to move inside the area and on to his right foot before drilling the ball past the keeper.

So, there was much to be impressed about. The one caveat was Vale were up against a younger Forest academy side in the first half of the game than they were in the second when Forest's team included more senior reserve players.

The mid-point of the game - half way through the middle third - saw both teams make sweeping changes. In Vale's case they swapped the entire XI and on came a set of players who had been training hard while the first half of the match was underway.

No doubt that extra fitness work took its toll along with the fact they were up against a stronger Forest side who pulled the score back to 4-3 and were on top when the referee blew for full time.

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Vale pre-season latest

But Askey was pleased with a workout which had been arranged with the help of Vale hero Phil Sproson, the Valiant who has contacts at Forest having represented a number of the players to come through their academy.

The manager said: "We got a lot out of it. We were able to not only play the game but also do some training here. It was a good full morning and then a good workout as regards the game, and we have been able to do the normal training we do as well.

"We killed two birds with one stone...and we have had a change of scenery as well."

The manager also used the game to take a look at six trialists. Keeper Jonny Maddison and a new trialist keeper both played, as did right back Shaun Cummings, winger Rhys Browne, striker Kwame Thomas and Alex Hurst, a 19 year old midfielder who spent last season with Bradford Park Avenue.